Researchers from the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia gathered for the AI-DeTect Kick-off Event from August 24 to 27, 2026, at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, in Sendai, Japan. AI-DeTect in the Philippines is a DOST-GIA-funded collaborative research project under the e-ASIA Joint Research Program involving Tohoku University, UP Diliman, and Universitas Gadjah Mada. The project aims to develop and validate AI-based methods for detecting and interpreting subtle anomalies in crustal deformation data, and to investigate their relationship to earthquake and volcanic eruption processes, with potential applications to future forecasting and early-warning systems. It also promotes long-term collaboration in research and capacity development among the three countries. Assistant Professor John Dale Dianala of the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS), attended the event in person as the lead representative of the Philippine team, while other members from UP and PHIVOLCS participated virtually.
AI-DeTect team members at the kick-off symposium on August 25. Photo courtesy of Dr. Yo Fukushima.
On August 24, participants visited the Natori City Earthquake Disaster Reconstruction Memorial Museum, where records of the effects, local disaster-risk-reduction measures, and post-disaster recovery of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami were displayed. Discussions considered how crustal-deformation observations and related geophysical research can contribute to learning more and preparing for similar events.
During the hybrid symposium on August 25, participants presented each country’s current monitoring environment for earthquake and volcanic hazards, available geodetic datasets, and relevant research expertise to help identify complementary capabilities and data resources among the three participating countries.
A research planning workshop was held on August 26 which centered on research design for specific segments of the Philippine Fault, Sumatra Fault, and volcanic study areas in the Philippines and Indonesia. On the final day, participants joined a hands-on machine- and deep-learning workshop led by Keisuke Yano from the The Institute of Statistical Mathematics (Japan).
Presentation during the AI-DeTect kick-off symposium at IRIDeS, Tohoku University